Renal System Flashcards

Flashcards reviewing the external and internal structures of the kidney and renal system, nephron parts, functions, cortex vs. medulla, renal pyramids, nephron types, urine production, renal processes, GFR regulation, and intrinsic/extrinsic regulators.

Cortex

Outer layer of the kidney

Medulla

Darker inner layer containing renal pyramids, collecting ducts, minor calyces, major calyces, renal pelvis

Major parts of the nephron

Bowman’s capsule, glomerulus, proximal tubule, loop of henle, distal convoluted tubule, connecting tubule, collecting duct, efferent and afferent arterioles

Functions of the renal system

Filter waste products from blood, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, and regulate blood pressure

Renal pyramid

Cone-shaped structures found within the renal medulla

Cortical nephron

A type of nephron primarily located in the cortex of the kidney, responsible for the majority of kidney function, including filtration and absorption.

Juxtamedullary nephrons

Nephrons that maintain osmotic gradient in renal medulla enabling kidney to produce highly concentrated urine

Filtration

Bulk flow of protein free plasma from the glomerular capillaries into Bowman’s capsule

Reabsorption

Selective transport of solute and water from lumen of renal tubule to the interstitial fluid outside the tubule

Secretion

Selective transport of solute and water from interstitial fluid into renal tubule

Effect of MAP on GFR

Increased mean arterial pressure increases

Intrinsic regulators of GFR

Myogenic regulation and tubuloglomerular feedback change resistance of afferent arteriole; mesangial cell contraction changes permeability of the filtration barrier

Extrinsic regulators of GFR

Sympathetic nervous system

Blood pressure drives urine production mostly through:

afferent arterioles